The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-06-04
ROUGH GREEK GAMES.
Description OF Some OF the Most Popular
Sports Of the Oven Islanders.


Description OF Some Of the Most Popula,
Sports OF the Oven Islanders.
We found the Oven Islanders very
great people for amusements; the
children, the young men, and some
times even the old, play games on the
beach, much as our youngsters do on
the village green; and they play many
games, too, which we know well in En-
gland. Is it that mems minds, when
intent on sport, will arrive at pretty
much the same conclusion all the world
overp think SO, for I am sure that IL
any traveller has ever visited the Oven
Islands he never took the trouble to
teach the inhabitants oranges and
lemons, blind mans buff and games Of
a kindred nature, which we saw, under
different names certainly, but played
in much the same fashion on the beach.
Most Of the games partook of rather
bellicose nature, and bore testimony
to the hardness and spirit OF our
friends. A game called "war" is dis
tinctly Of this nature, and is a great
favorite among the adult population.
Two sides are chosen. the "ups" and
the "downs," say ten on each side. and
hostile camps are pitched about thirty
yards apart; having previously come to
decision as to which side is to COM
mence firing, the general of the cup"
marshals his men in row, takes ball
in his hand, and when the signal for the
commencement of hostilities is given
hurls it with all his might on the
downs" If it is caught before it falls,
one of the "ups'' has to 60 over to the
the camp of the clowns" as prisoner
of war; he is henceforth termed beast
of burden. They jump on his back and
ride him up and down in triumph; if,
however, as frequently happens, it is
not caught, the prisoner who is hit
has to 60 from the camp to the
''downs," and receives similar treat
ment. The next shot takes place from
the opposite side, until not man is left.
There was always great excitement. we
noticed, when only one was left in each
camp, and the victory generally fell to
the thrower of the ball.
While their elders were thus engaged,
the more Juvenile portion of the popu-
lation were to be seen hard by engaged
in game of an equally rough nature.
Four of them, with their arms linked
and their backs outwards, were dane
ing slowly round in circle, singing as
they went; to one of them was attached
q red girdle. the other end of which was
held by another boy, whose duty was
to prevent the rest of the players from
jumping on the backs of those who were
singing; if any one succeeded in doing
so, the boy with the girdle was defeated
and gave place to another. Scarcely
any of their games are without this
jumping on the back as assign of victory
and humiliation to the vanquished;
rough treatment and blows naturally
ensue, and all are borne with the
greatest good nature. 1 never once
saw them squabble over this class Of
game; in this point they differ from En-
glish children. 1t is very different,
however, when money is at stake. In
the game of omades, form of pitch
and toss, OF in the cafes, where the men
fight over their cards and labyrinth
games, the disputes often take alarming
proportions. In this characteristic they
are Greek, and undoubtedly theirs is
the sensible view to take of the matter
-squabble only when there is some-
thing substantial TO be gained by so
doing.
Anybody wishing for a study in Greek
human nature could have no better
opportunity than we had when watch
ing these islanders on Sunday after
noon at their games by the Shore
Lonqnaa,.'s Magazine.